Dual lehr loader



April 3, 1962 Filed Jan. 12, 1960 J. M. BLANK ETAL 3,027,990

DUAL LEI-IR LOADER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 SHE I2 INVENTORS 4% m- {Aka/ c// M 544W fl P ESdMuL 'Oooo April 3, 1962 J. M. BLANK ET AL.

DUAL LEI-IR LOADER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 12, 1960 April 3, 1962 J. M. BLANK ET AL DUAL LEHR LOADER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 12, 1960 INV NTORS arafv/zwfi M w gr-010M021 BY g United States Patent 3,027,990 DUAL LEI-IR LOADER John M. Blank and Hal J. Shafer, Jr., Toledo, Ohio, assignors to Owens-Illinois Glass Company, a corporation of Ohio Filed Jan. 12, 1960, Ser. No. 1,884 6 Claims. (Cl. 198-30) This invention relates to a dual lehr loader apparatus for loading lehrs wherein the full Width of the lehr is utilized.

Existing lehr loaders take the general form of the dual lehr loader described in US. Patent 2,113,929, issued April 12, 1938 to J. P. Benoit. As disclosed in the above-mentioned patent, two parallel end conveyors carry articles from the forming machines to the ends of co-planar cross-conveyors. In order for this particular type of lehr loader to be used efiiciently and fully load the lehr belt, it has been necessary to provide sideways adjustability. For example, when articles are being loaded on a lehr belt from a single machine, it has been impossible to utilize the entire width of the lehr belt because the adjustability of the cross-conveyor is not sufiicient to span the entire width of the lehr belt. FIG. 14 of said patent illustrates the limits of adjustability and it can be seen that there is not sufiicient lateral adjustment of the cross-conveyors so as to provide full utilization of the lehr belt.

An object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for receiving articles from two forming or decorating machines and transferring them to the same lehr.

A further object of the invention is to provide dual cross-conveyors of coextensive length and means for selectively driving the conveyors in either direction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lehr loading device of suflicient flexibility such that it will convey articles from either side or both the full width of the lehr. m

A further object of the invention is to provide selective driving of parallel coextensive cross-conveyors such that both large and small diameter articles may be conveyed and transferred to the lehr belt to utilize the full width of the lehr regardless of whether the articles are being conveyed from both sides or one side only.

The specific nature of this invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description thereof taken in conjunction with the annexed sheets of drawings, on which, by way of preferred example only, is illustrated one embodiment of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic top plan view of the transfer mechanism and the annealing lehr belt.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating the several possible modes of operation of the cross-conveyors.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a wiring diagram for providing selective energization of the clutches.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is generally shown a crossconveyor arrangement 9 for carrying a series of spaced articles 111 received from end conveyors 14 and across the front of a lehr preparatory to being transferred to a lehr belt 11. The cross-conveyors 12 and 13- are parallel and coextensive and extend beyond the sides of the lehr. The articles from the forming or decorating machines (not shown) are conveyed by means of the end conveyors 14 and 15 toward respective ends of the cross-conveyors and generally along a line normal to the path of travel of the cross-conveyors. A conventional transfer mechanism 16, such as a star-wheel transfer unit, transfers Patented Apr. 3, 1962 the articles from the ends of the end conveyors 14 and 15 to the cross-conveyors 12 and 13 and positions the articles on the cross-conveyors such that there is equal spacing between articles 10 on the cross-conveyors. The crossconveyors are driven in a preselected manner through the intermediary of electromagnetic clutches A, B, C, and D in their drive system. A detailed description of one half of the drive mechanism operating one side of the device, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, will provide an understanding of how both sides operate inasmuch as they both operate in the same manner except in a reverse sense;

A synchronous motor 17 having two output shafts 18 and 19 has one output shaft 19- in driving connection with a drive mechanism 20 which drives a transfer mechanism 16 in a clockwise direction as shown by the arrow 21. The other ouput shaft 18 drives a positive infinitely variable transmission mechanism 22 (P.I.V.), manufactured by the Link Belt Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and described in Book No. 2274 of said company, copyrighted in 1950. The P.I.V. 22 has an output shaft coupled to a reduction gear device 23 which in turn drives a shaft 24 at a preselected speed. The shaft 24 in turn, through the direction changing gear 2 5 and chain drive 26 rotates a horizontal drive shaft 27 on the righthand side of the device. The shaft 27 will turn freely within the magnetic clutch housings B and D. The outputs shaft 18 of the synchronous motor 17 is also coupled to a reduction gear 28 whose output shaft 29 is connected to the conveyor 15. The reduction gear box 28 also has an output which, through the chain 30, drives mechanism 3 1 for operating a pusher bar 32 in sequence with the movement of the conveyors 12 and 13 and the movement of the conveyor 15. The synchronism of the operation of the pusher bar 32 is adjustable in a known manner, for example as disclosed in the US. Patent 2,113,929, issued April 12, 1938, to LP. Benoit.

The other side of the device operates in a similar manner to the above disclosure of the operation of the lefthand side of the device, it being understood that a synchronous motor 33 provides the motive power via parts 124, 125, and 126 for a shaft 34 extending through the electromagnetic clutch housing A and C.

Thus it can be seen that energization of clutches B and D will cause movement of both the conveyors 121 and 13 toward the right, as viewed in FIG. 1, and large diameter ware which would require the width of both conveyors in order to handle the ware, may be transferred from the end conveyor 15 by a suitable transfer means 16 onto the conveyors 12 and 13. In this particular situation a pusher bar 35 is removed and the other pusher bar 32, which is reciprocally driven by the left side mechanism, is replaced by a pusher bar having sufficient length to extend the full length of the lehr and it will be actuated when a suflicient number of articles have been transferred to the belts 12 and 13 and have been conveyed across the full width of the lehr. In the event that large diameter ware is being produced or decorated by a machine at the righthand side of the lehr, the articles thus produced will be conveyed toward the cross-conveyors by means of an end conveyor 14 and in this situation the device is operated with the clutches A and C energized and driven by motor 3 3-. This then provides a .reversal of the operation explained above when wide diameter ware is being delivered to the left side of the conveyor mechanism.

As specifically shown in FIG. 1, small diameter ware 10 is being delivered from two machines by the conveyors 14 and 15. Clutches A and D would be energized while a clutches B and C will be de-energized. The synchronism between operation of the pusher bars 32 and 35 and the length of travel of the conveyors 12 and 13 may be adjusted so that a full row of articles is transferred to the lehr belt 11 at the same time. In the event that more articles are being conveyed to the machine from one side than from the other side, it is only necessary to'change the relative length of the pusher bars 32 and 35 to take into consideration the uneven speed of conveying of the articles on the cross-conveyors toward the center of the lehr belt 11.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there are disclosed diagrammatically five alternative examples, numbered 1-5, of different ways of driving the cross-conveyors, depending upon the type of ware being handled and whether or not ware is being formed or decorated at both sides or one side only. This illustrates the flexibility feature of the invention. Example 1 shows the direction of travel by arrows 36 and 37 when the electromagnetic clutches A and D are energized and clutches B and C are de-energized.

Example 2 shows driving cross-conveyors 12 and 13 in the direction of the arrows by energizing electromagnetic clutches A and C while clutches B and D are de-energized. This type of energization would be necessary when large diameter ware is being conveyed from the righthand side of the machine, as mentioned earlier herein.

Example 3 shows both conveyors 12 and 13 being driven in the same direction and would be a suitable mode of operating the belt when large diameter ware is being conveyed from the lefthand side of the machine, as mentioned earlier herein. In this situation clutches A and C are de-energized and clutches B and D are energized.

Examples 4 and 5 show the operation of a single conveyor belt so as to carry articles from either side when there is only a single forming machine or decorating machine being used to supply relatively small diameter articles, such as articles shown on FIG. 1, to the crossconveyor arrangement 9.

Referring to FIG. 3, there are shown the electromagnetic clutches A and C, at the lefthand end of conveyors 12 and 13 on FIG. 1, presented in an enlarged sectional view with reference to the showing of these same clutches in FIG. 1. The shaft 34 is rotated continuously in the direction indicated by the arrow 38. The shaft is supported near both ends by ball bearings 39 and 40 which seat in the outer races 41 and 42 supported by the clutch housings 43 and 44 and have their inner races 45 and 46 fastened to the shaft 34. Annular magnetic bodies 47 and 48 are splined to shaft 34 at 49 and 50 for rotation therewith. The annular magnetic bodies have energizing coils 51 and 52 imbedded therein which are connected to slip rings 53 and 54 carried by the magnetic bodies 47 and 48. Annular hubs 55 and 56 are mounted for rotation relative to the magnetic bodies 47 and 4S and are connected by means of screws 57 and 58 to chain drive pulleys 59 and 60, mounted for rotation on shaft 34. The hubs 55 and 56 have longitudinal splines. A pair of annular armatures 61 and 62 are provided having internally projecting teeth 63 which mesh with the splines 64 and 65 of the spline hubs 55 and 56 and, upon energization of the coils 51 and 52 within the magnetic bodies, will couple the magnetic bodies to the spline hubs thus resulting in rotation of the conveyor drive pulleys 59 and 60. Spring biased contact brushes 61 and 62 provide the electrical connections to the slip rings 53- and 54 and will provide energization to the coils 51 and 52. The individual magnetic clutches are available as standard items manufactured by I-T-E Circuit Breaker Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and described in a paper entitled The Electro Clutch and Its Control by Mr. H. B. Stallings of that company and presented at the Seventh Annual A.I.E.E. Special Conference on Machine Tools, October, 1943, at Detroit, Michigan.

While the above description relates specifically to the clutches A and C, it should be understood that the clutches B and D are identical to A and C with the only diiference being that the central drive shaft 27 is rotated in a direction opposite to the rotation of the drive shaft 34 disclosed in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a circuit diagram having three banks X, Y, Z of switches providing selective control over the operation of the cross-conveyors 12 and 13. Actuation of the switch bank X will result in an energization of clutch A and clutch B, as shown on FIG. 1 and Example 1 of FIG. 2. Actuation of the bank Y results in energization of clutches A and C, and actuation of bank Z will result in energization of clutches B and D. Energization for the magnetic clutches is derived from a suitable source of 120 volt, 60 cycle, A.-C. supply connected across leads 70 and 71 and a step-down transformer 72. The output of transformer 72 is connected to a rectifier bridge 73 wherein the output voltage, appearing at terminals 74 and 75, is substantially 24 volt D.C. Three separate leads 76, 77, and 78 are connected to the rectifier bridge output terminal 75 and serve as a source of energization for the electromagnetic clutches A, B, C, and D. Leads 76, 77, and 78 are connected to switch banks X, Y, and Z respectively. The operation of the switch banks X, Y, and Z is initiated by pushing start buttons 79, 80, and 81. For example, by actuating button 79, a circuit is completed through the button 79 by means of a lead 82, electromagnetic switch actuator 83, lead 84, normally closed stop switch 85, lead 86, normally closed switch 87 in switch bank Z, normally closed switch 88 in switch bank Y, and through a return lead 89 back to power lead 70. Energization of the electromagnetic switch actuator 83 results in a mechanical closing of switches 90, 91, and 92. Closing of the switch 90 insures maintenance of energization to the electromagnetic switch actuator 83 to hold switches 90, 91, and 92 closed until at such time the stop button is operated to open the circuit to the electromagnetic switch actuator 83 and resulting in an opening of the switches 9'1, and 92.

Energization of switch actuator 83 also results in the opening of switches 93 and 94 to prevent accidental operation of the clutches B and C during the operation of clutches A and D. For example, if start switch it of switch bank Y were accidentally or intentionally closed, the electromagnetic switch actuator associated with switch bank Y would not be energized because switch 93 in switch bank X is open during energization of clutches A and D. Switch 93 must be closed before closing of switch 80 has any elfect. Likewise, switch 94 must be closed before closing of switch 81 of switch bank Z has any efiect. Thus, it can be seen that energization of the electromagnetic switch actuator 83 will close switches 91 and 92 thus connecting the lead 76 to the input leads 95 and 96 of the clutches A and D. Lead 95 is connected to the brush contact 66 of the clutch A and the lead 96 is connected to the brush contact 67 of clutch D. A return lead 97 is shown connected to the rectifier bridge 73 at terminal '74.

In order to prevent any arcing at the control switch contacts, an arc suppressor circuit consisting of a resistor 98 and a selenium rectifier 99 are connected in series across the clutch coil. This suppressor circuit causes a slight time delay when opening the clutch A but this is insignificant when compared with the total operating time of the clutch.

It is believed unnecessary to describe in detail the elements and the functions attributed to the switch banks Y and Z inasmuch as they function in the same manner as switch bank X. However, it should be pointed out that operation of switch bank Y, by pushing the start button 80, will operate the electromagnetic clutches A and C as shown in Example 2 of FIG. 2. Furthermore, the operation of switch bank Z, by operating starter switch 91, will result in energization of clutches B and D and drive the conveyors 12 and 13 in the same manner shown in Example 3 of FIG 2.

The foregoing circuits are described for operation according to the respective examples, previously described, numbered 1, 2, and 3 of FIG. 2.

When it is desired to operate the device according to examples numbered 4 and 5, FIG. 2, the following circuits may be employed.

Operation according to Example 4 (FIG. 2) may be accomplished by actuation of bank X switches, in the manner described above, and switch 92 manually opened so as to de-energize clutch D. Clutch A will remain energized.

In a similar manner, operation according to Example 5 (FIG. 2) may be accomplished by actuation of switch bank X, and switch 9-1 manually opened so as to deenergize clutch A. Clutch D will remain energized.

Obviously, for the foregoing operations, as in Examples 4 and 5, numerous other control circuits could be employed. For example, a manual switch could be inserted in leads 95 and 96 to individually control the clutches A and D for operating the two cross-conveyors 12 and 13, respectively.

To summarize, it can be seen that depending on the selection of which of the four clutches is energized, the cross-conveyors 12 and 13 may be operated in the same direction, either to the right or to the left or in opposite directions, thus the full width of the lehr belt may be utilized regardless of whether ware is being fed to the cross-conveyors from both end conveyors 14 and 15, conveyor 1 4 alone, or conveyor 15. The longitudinal speed of the conveyors 12 and 13 is always related to the rate of transfer of articles onto the conveyors and to the rate of travel of articles on the end conveyors from which the articles are being transferred. Obviously, the speeds of the various conveyor and transfer mechanisms are adjustable in the manner taught in the US. Patent 2,113,929, referred to above, and the operation of the pushers 32 and 35 may be timed so that they are operated to move a complete row of articles from the cross-conveyors 12 and 13 to the lehr belt 11.

Various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Article conveying and transfer mechanism comprising a pair of parallel, coextensive conveyors, means for placing articles in succession on the ends of the conveyors, selectively actuable driving means for each conveyor for moving each conveyor in either direction, a pusher bar, interconnected drive means between the conveyors and pusher bar for periodically and intermittently operating the pusher bar to transfer articles from the conveyors, and means for adjusting the connection between said drive means.

2. A lehr belt loader comprising a pair of parallel coextensive cross-conveyors extending across the full width of the lehr, a transversely extending drive shaft at each end of the cross conveyors, a pair of axially spaced conveyor engaging drive members mounted for rotation on each shaft, coupling means for coupling each individual drive member to its associated drive shaft, means for rotating the right end drive shaft in a clockwise direction, means for rotating the left end drive shaft in a counterclockwise direction, and means for selectively actuating said coupling means to drive said cross-conveyors in pre-selected directions.

3. A lehr belt loader comprising a pair of parallel coextensive cross-conveyors extending across the full width of the lehr, a transversely extending drive shaft at each end of the cross-conveyors, a pair of axially spaced conveyor engaging sprockets mounted for rotation 5 on each shaft, electromagnetically actuated coupling means for coupling each individual sprocket to its associated drive shaft, means for rotating the right end drive shaft in a clockwise direction, means for rotating the left end drive shaft in a counterclockwise direction, and switching means for selectively actuating said coupling means to drive said cross-conveyors in preselected directions.

4. A lehr belt loader comprising two parallel coextensive cross-conveyors extending across the full width of the lehr, a transversely extending drive shaft at each end of the cross-conveyors, a pair of axially spaced individual conveyor engaging drive members mounted for rotation on each shaft, coupling means for coupling each drive member to its associated drive shaft, means for continuously rotating said drive shafts in opposite directions, and means for selectively actuating said coupling means to drive said cross-conveyors in preselected directions.

5. A lehr belt loader comprising two parallel coextensive cross-conveyors extending across the full width of the lehr and adapted to carry articles placed thereon at the ends of the conveyors, continuously rotated means at both ends of said conveyors, motor means connected to drive each said continuously rotated means, means for selectively coupling said continuously rotated means to said cross-conveyors, means for transferring articles from said cross-conveyors to the lehr belt, and means connecting said transfer means to said motor means for actuation thereby in coordination with predetermined movement of said conveyors.

6. A lehr belt loader comprising two parallel coextensive cross-conveyors extending across the full width of the lehr and adapted to carry articles placed thereon at the ends of the conveyors, a continuously rotated means at both ends of said conveyors, a separate motor connect ed to drive each said continuously rotated means, means for selectively coupling said continuously rotated means to said cross-conveyors, means for transferring articles from said cross-conveyors to the lehr belt, and means connecting said transfer means to said motors for actuation thereby in coordination with predetermined movements of said conveyors.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,764,153 Cramer June 17, 1930 1,883,369 Hardman Oct. 18, 1932 1,906,786 Bowman May 2, 1933 1,967,366 McGovern July 24, 1934 2,788,134 Miller Apr. 9, 1957 

